August 6, 2020
The Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva on Thursday led the Management team of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to commission the 8,000 metric ton Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plant established by Rainoil Company Limited in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the Minister remarked that “energy is at the core of the global economy” and that the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was encouraged by the increasing participation of Nigeria’s petroleum downstream operators in the industry.
 He congratulated the Rainoil Group and its Managing Director for setting up the Gas plant at a time the present administration was determined to make this year, a year of gas as a way of encouraging more Nigerians to use gas.
 Sylva disclosed that Nigeria was among the lowest users of gas but that the narrative has begun to change with the availability of the product through the participation of the downstream operators.
 He expressed happiness with the pledge of the NNPC management to assist Rainoil Group in actualising its dream.
 Earlier in his welcome speech, the Group Managing Director of Rainoil Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie disclosed that his company has been positioned to play a great role in the downstream sector with the availability of a ship to convey petroleum products, and storage facilities in the group’s tank farms located in Lagos, Calabar and Oghara.
 According to him, each of the tank farms has 50 million litre petroleum capacity with more than 100 trucks for distribution of products. He added that another set of 45 trucks have been procured for distribution of Gas products with the commissioning of the plant.
 He expressed his company’s determination to be part of federal government’s effort to ensure that petroleum products, which are essential to our existence would be regularly distributed to Nigerians.
 The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr. Melee Kyari in his brief speech said the Corporation was happy with Rainoil Group as an indigenous down stream operator in the industry and pledged his management support to the Group.
 Highlight of the occasion was the official cutting of the ceremonial tape to declare the plant open for operation.
Renowned persons present at the commissioning included the Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum, Hon. Mahmud Gaya, NNPC officials and petroleum industry downstream stakeholders among whom were the Managing Directors of A.A.Rano Limited, Northwest Oil and Group Executive Director of Rainoil, Mrs. Godrey Ogbechie, wife of former Deputy Comptroller-General of Immigration, Brasca Ifeadi amongst others.